Education and the Presidential Candidates

[smbyers@aol.com]

I appreciate the thoughtful responses on this topic. I would
like to take the discussion to a more detailed level within
the context of systems thinking. 

I have been thinking about the case study in The Improvement
Guide (Langley, et al.) in the chapter called Guidance for 
Leaders. The case study (p. 285) concerns a school district
in Leander, Texas(!) that used the improvement model 
described by Langley (and Nolan, Nolan, Provost, and Norman)
to build a system of improvement. I do not know whether
Leander is anywhere near Mr. Bush's ranch outside of Austin,
but I would like to know if he is familiar with the 
approach taken by this school district (not just a single
school or classroom). Perhaps one of the Improvement Guide
authors can give us an update.

What is most striking about the case study is the emphasis
on method, and this is in striking contrast to all of the
campaign rhetoric about testing and accountability and 
results and so on. The school district is viewed as a system
and the purpose and vision are clearly stated in terms of a
"graduate profile" which defines a successful graduate of 
the district. The district took three years to design their
system of improvement, the result being a three year plan
to carry out the changes. According to the authors, the 
effect of this planning process was to align management,
staff, and board members on a direction for the district.
What a concept. And, the board now knows what their job is:
to ensure that the PURPOSE of the district is being 
achieved. Board meetings are no longer consumed by fire-
fighting and dealing with isolated complaints or problems.

This is exciting stuff to me, and exotic, as well, given my
current circumstances. How can we communicate these kinds 
of ideas and models and methods within our own communities?
Must a school district (or any other organization) be in 
desperate straits to be receptive? Personally, my next step
will be to try and learn more about this one experiment so
that when the opportunity comes to hold forth, I will know
more than I do now.

Steve Byers
smbyers@aol.com
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